III iii

 

My reputation, Iago, my reputation!

 

IAGO and CASSIO

 

IAGO                 What, are you hurt, lieutenant?

 

CASSIO             Ay, past all surgery.

 

IAGO                 Marry, heaven forbid!

 

CASSIO             Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost
my reputation! My reputation, Iago, my reputation!

 

IAGO                 As I am an honest man, I thought you had received
some bodily wound; there is more sense in that than
in reputation. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: 

                            you are but now cast in his mood. Sue to him again
and he's yours.

 

CASSIO             I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so
good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so
indiscreet an officer.

 

IAGO                 What was he that you followed with your sword? What
had he done to you?

 

CASSIO             I know not.

 

IAGO                 Is't possible?

 

CASSIO             I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, 

                            but nothing wherefore. O God, that men should put an enemy in 

                            their mouths to steal away their brains!

 

IAGO                 Come, you are too severe a moraler: I could heartily wish this had not befallen; 

                            but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.

 

CASSIO             I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me I am a drunkard! 

 

IAGO                 Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used: 

                            exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you.

 

CASSIO             I have well approved it, sir. I drunk!

 

IAGO                 You or any man living may be drunk! at a time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. 

                           Our general's wife is now the general: confess yourself freely to her; importune 

                           her help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed 

                           a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested.

 

CASSIO             You advise me well.

 

IAGO                 I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness.

 

CASSIO             I think it freely; and betimes in the morning I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona 

                            to undertake for me:

 

IAGO                 You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch.

 

CASSIO             Good night, honest Iago.

 

                           [Exit]

 

IAGO                 And what's he then that says I play the villain?
When this advice is free I give and honest,
Probal to thinking and indeed the course
To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy
The inclining Desdemona to subdue
In any honest suit: she's framed as fruitful
As the free elements. And then for her
To win the Moor--were't to renounce his baptism,
All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,
His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,
That she may make, unmake, do what she list,
Even as her appetite shall play the god
With his weak function. How am I then a villain
To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,
Directly to his good? Divinity of hell!
When devils will the blackest sins put on,
They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,
As I do now: for whiles this honest fool
Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes
And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,
That she repeals him for her body's lust;
And by how much she strives to do him good,
She shall undo her credit with the Moor.
So will I turn her virtue into pitch,
And out of her own goodness make the net
That shall enmesh them all.

 

                           [Re-enter RODERIGO]

 

                           How now, Roderigo!

 

RODERIGO       My money is almost spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well
cudgelled; and I think the issue will be, I shall have so much 

                           experience for my pains, and so, with no money at all and a little 

                           more wit, return again to Venice.

 

IAGO                 How poor are they that have not patience!
Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee.
And thou, by that small hurt, hast cashier'd Cassio:
Content thyself awhile. By the mass, 'tis morning;
Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.
Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:
Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:
Nay, get thee gone.

 

                           [Exit RODERIGO]

 

Two things are to be done:
My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;
I'll set her on;
Myself the while to draw the Moor apart,
And bring him jump when he may Cassio find
Soliciting his wife: ay, that's the way
Dull not device by coldness and delay.

 

                           [Exit]